Bars, clubs, bands, plays, movies, drugs (oh wait, not drugs) ...

This cozy north end spot is perfect for vegging
out with the game, a pizza and a beer. The relaxed atmosphere and
super-friendly staff attracts everyone from Dad-like baby boomers to
that guy Dad told you to stay away from. Cheap drinks and a decent tap
list help round out the attractions.

Buck's Mountain Saloon & Grill

116 W. Midland Ave., Woodland Park,
686-1212

Woodland Park's friendly neighborhood redneck
watering hole is always a fine place to wile away your miseries in
empathetic company. But it's a must during summertime Sunday
afternoons, just to hear the weekly country jam's
70-year-old-but-stilll-amazing Rosalie DuPree croon everything from
Willie Nelson's "Pancho and Lefty" to her own ribald send-up, "Help Me
Fake It Through the Night." And while we can't promise a cowgirl brawl
while you're there, it's been known to happen.

Duffy's Tavern

4861 N. Academy Blvd., 599-7739

This super-low-key joint is a decent place for a
quiet beer and a game of pool or darts. Added bonus: Smoking outside in
the middle of a parking lot feels like free period in high school.

Erin Inn

6480 N. Academy Blvd., 598-3004

Every night, Erin Inn has a special $1 shot. What
more could you possibly need? Here's a toast to your impending
hangover. As the Irish say: Erin go, bro ...

A triple readers' poll winner Bar for a Martini,
Bar for a Specialty Mixed Cocktail, Upscale Bar (its sixth straight
year in this category) 15C is a den of hidden delights. Just walk down
the dark back alley in search of the purple light to find the otherwise
indistinguishable door. 15C's extensive array of martinis range from
the classic James Bond affectation to such trendy concoctions as the
Sugar Daddy, French Kiss and Velvet Hammer. You'll also find classic
hors d'oeuvres, a cigar menu and candlelight.

Celebrating his 25th year in the business, owner
Frankie Patton also holds the distinction of having been sued by Led
Zeppelin back in '07 for failure to pay ASCAP fees. (He's pretty
careful about that now.) Most of the bands here play cover tunes by
whatever artists will inspire patrons to drink and dance which they do
with great enthusiasm. Just don't expect to hear a lot of Zeppelin.

Sometimes you just gotta belt out your own
idiosyncratically tuneful rendition of Neil Diamond's "Sweet Caroline"
or Def Leppard's "Pour Some Sugar on Me." But do you have to do it in
public? Apparently so, as regulars at our 2008's Best Of Karaoke Bar
winner know all too well. Owner Bob Jardon says Buckcherry's "Crazy
Bitch" may even inspire patrons to dance on the bar. And who can resist
those Bad Santa and Pimp & Ho nights?

Hondo's, Indy readers' pick for Best New
Bar last year, offers two huge projection screens and plenty more
high-def monitors. You can sit at the bar and watch football, baseball,
boxing and whatever, all at once. There's live music on the weekends,
pool tables available all the time, free wireless Internet and very
decent food that goes beyond just the usual bar grub for instance,
breaded and fried jalapeo slices, clam chowder or chili every day, and
steak specials.

Putting in a sports bar somewhere along the busy
Powers Boulevard corridor is a logical move, and finding a spot just
upstream from Security Service Field (home of the Sky Sox) is even
smarter. Our readers' favorite sports bar has plenty of high-def,
big-screen TVs to pull in any game or sportscast you want. And it's not
just a bar: The menu has plenty of variety, including surprises such as
the Santa Fe chicken rolls or the swordfish sandwich.

It's no mystery why Jack Quinn's wins our Best
Irish Pub award year after year. Not only is it the best place in town
to enjoy a Beamish, or one of the many other imports on tap, it also
hosts an annual Oyster Fest, a weekly pub quiz and Brian Clancy belting
out Irish tunes most Thursdays. The food's pretty tasty, too. Along
with traditional Irish fare, Quinn's revamped menu includes
mouth-watering choices like Irish-coffee-crusted ribeye.

Keg Lounge

730 Manitou Ave.,
Manitou Springs,
685-9531

Best Of 'o8

Man and woman do not live by drink alone, which
is where Mike Donner comes into the picture. A Manitou Springs High
graduate who was also a pretty good basketball player, he rules the Keg
Lounge's open-air kitchen, cooking up a variety of consistently
excellent dinners even on the busiest nights. He's been at it long
enough to have his own staple on the menu: Donner's Scampi, which is a
typical shrimp scampi doctored up with Mike's favorite spices. He'll
make it as hot as you want, and there's no shortage of cold beer to
cool you down.

An enthusiastic welcome from the Loop staff might
lead you to think they'd spent the entire afternoon sampling from the
bar. But it's just a healthy "happy to see you" which, along with 13
different margarita concoctions, makes this a damn fine place to go.
The menu offers two choices in size: regular, for mere mortals, and
grande, which is perfect if you have lots of time to walk home.

If shots of whiskey with water chasers aren't
your thing, fear not. McCabe's has cheap, yummy shots throughout the
week, including $4 Washington apples on Tuesdays and $3 kamikazes on
Sundays. You'll find plenty of good beers on tap as well as what may
well be the best food of any downtown bar.

Meadow Muffins

2432 W. Colorado Ave, 633-0583

The Urban Dictionary lists meadow muffins as a
synonym for cattle droppings, but Frommer's calls it "a boisterous bar
packed with movie memorabilia and assorted oddities." Even cattle love
the Jiffy Burger, which is topped with bacon and peanut butter.

In addition to myriad daily drink specials,
Porky's also offers sand volleyball. (Yeah, that scene from Top
Gun just flashed in my head, too.) You'll also find a huge patio
and firepits, just like in Lord of the Flies! Except without
that kid with the broken glasses. Whose name was Piggy, not Porky.
Wait, how did we get onto this?

In addition to its 11 HDTVs, you'll get plenty of
exercise thanks to Rhino's electronic darts, video bowling, video golf
and beer pong. You'll also find good bartenders, live DJs on Friday and
Saturday night and broadcasts of UFC fights for those who just can't
get enough of Quinto Rampage and Keith the Dean of Mean.

Robin Hood Inn

2830 N. Nevada Ave., 520-0363

A king among dives, this packed bar serves strong
drinks to a delightfully seedy clientele, rocks the liveliest karaoke
ever and has several creepy murals of the anthropomorphic characters
from Disney's Robin Hood. A huge, covered patio makes up for
closet-sized bathrooms.

Rum Bay

20 N. Tejon St., 634-3522

Best Of 'o8

Holding a reputation as the place to dance like a
fool is Rum Bay's forte 2008 was the club's third year in a row to win
that award, with three additional wins in its history. You'll find
eight nightclubs under one roof, including the 109.57-square-foot Sam's
World's Smallest Bar.

Serious drinking and dancing reigns at 13 Pure,
where you'll find a $15 get-all-you-can-drink deal on wine, wells and
drafts all night, plus $5 Jag and Tuaca bombs. This along with Top 40,
electro and Latin music on the dance floor will guarantee a morning
spent in bed.

Time Out Sports Lounge and Deli

3721 Drennan Road, 390-7257

This is the perfect spot for anyone who left his
or her heart in Minnesota. Time Out serves up plenty of cheap drinks
and hot, greasy bar food. Extra points for remaining faithful to its
Vikings' purple pride right here in the middle of Broncos country.

Tony's

311 N. Tejon St., 228-6566

Best Of 'o8

For two years now, Tony's won our Best Of for
Bang-for-your-Buck Bar, Hangout and Neighborhood Bar. This, in spite of
the fact that former Indy arts editor Pete Freedman left the
state. You'll even find a "Recession Night" on Tuesday and Thursday
evening, featuring five items for under $5, including a shot-and-24
oz.-PBR-draft combo. Who says life isn't good?

Voted by our readers as Best Gay Bar in 2008, the
Underground is located in the heart of downtown. Sure, there's the
friendly, mellow clientele and roomy deck, but it's the incredible
sound-system and brick dcor downstairs that keeps the party rockin'
'til the break of dawn. Well, actually 'til 4 a.m. Close enough.

LIVE MUSIC CLUBS

Benny's Restaurant & Lounge

517 W. Colorado Ave., 634-9309

Best Of 'o8

Local blues prodigies like Grant Sabin and Jeremy
Vasquez play here on a regular basis. Benny's is also an excellent pit
stop for bikers, barflies and pretty much anyone else who knows how to
live the good life.

Indy readers have awarded the Black Sheep
our Best Local Venue for Live Music each of the three years since this
all-ages venue opened. It books a steady stream of national-caliber
indie, emo, metal, hip-hop and uncategorizable artists. Being owned by
the Denver-based Soda Jerk Presents gives it extra clout when it comes
to bringing in touring bands.

In addition to Indy readers calling it the
Best Place to Two-Step for the past three years, this Tejon Street
venue brings in some pretty impressive country tunesmiths. Darryl
Worley and Aaron Watson both came through recently. When the live music
stops, there's always that mechanical bull and plenty of dancing. And
if you've never seen a roomful of line-dancers getting down to Clarence
Carter's "Strokin'," you haven't experienced Colorado Springs.

Great sound and sightlines, plus a formidable
lineup of touring roots and blues acts, make this wood-hewn getaway a
destination spot for music fans throughout the area. Owner Darryl Maggs
used to play professional hockey in Canada, which may be why Corb Lund
and his Hurtin' Albertans came through twice in the first three months
of '09.

Jack Quinn Irish Alehouse & Pub

21 S. Tejon St., 385-0766

jackquinnspubcom

Best Of 'o8

A who's who of the Springs' young blues players
routinely hit this pub, along with no shortage of Celtic troubadours.
Occasionally, patrons may also have a drink or two.

Otis Taylor, Bob Margolin and John Hammond are
among the artists who've performed at musician Big Jim Adams' Jimbo's
Take 2, which started as a private club but is now open to everyone. No
alcohol, though: The venue's aim is to present acoustic roots music in
a setting with the intimacy of a house concert, just bigger and with
much better sound.

Surprisingly few outdoor clothing shops play host
to touring artists these days (or any days that we're aware of), but
Kinfolks is and does just that. You'll also find darts not to be thrown
at the stage and a selection of micro-brews that changes weekly. Plus,
the guy who books shows there is named Shitty.

In addition to being named by Indy readers
as the Best Bar with a Smokin' Patio, Oscar's also has a lineup of
smokin' patio bands. Its huge outdoor space has wood and plastic
sheeting for walls, a stage for music, and big heaters and a bar for
year-round comfort and joy. Combine that with a hangover breakfast on
weekends and a Tuesday crawfish boil, and you are most definitely good
to go.

Colorado Springs' best live
PunkRockabillyAmericanaGarageRock venue puts the stage front and
center, but it's also got a Stooges-stocked jukebox and bartender Dave
Baumgartner, both of whom snagged Best Of awards this year. All that
plus absinthe, which makes the heart glow flounder.

Local stalwarts like Jake Loggins and Arch Hooks
keep the dance floor packed at this lower Tejon establishment, which
lives up to its motto: "It's better to eat at a great bar than drink at
a restaurant." The axiom is no less true than Billy Connolly's claim
that "If you want to lose a bit of weight, don't eat anything out of a
bucket."

Sure, there's cover bands (including those
touring Led Zep guys), but what other Springs venue can boast
performances by Billy Bob Thornton and Firefall? The music takes
place upstairs, away from the serious drinking, and features top-notch
acoustics well-suited for weekly performances by local jazz players, as
well as the occasional itinerant blues artist.

Will the U2 or, God help us, Blink-182 of
tomorrow be playing the Triple Nickel tonight? Um, no, but if you're
looking to discover a motley crew of talented young road warriors from
across this great country of ours, bands who sound f'n great after just
one $5.50 pitcher of PBR, then this is your place. Pretty much all
shows are free, except, you know, for U2.

If you're looking for a place to get your metal
on without hordes of underage vermin trying to swig your drink while
your back is turned Union Station is just like your own little Cheers.
Except that instead of that creepy postman, they have free body shots.
But just for the ladies. Frat-boy gets to watch.

OTHER MUSIC VENUES

Armstrong Hall

14 E. Cache la Poudre St., 389-6606

This Colorado College venue has played host to
bands ranging from Low to Phish, as well as public radio fixtures like
Ira Glass and etown, operas, dance companies and the annual Gay
and Lesbian Theatre Festival. Sadly, reports of repeated attendance
leading to enhanced biceps have proven apocryphal.

Arnold Hall

United States Air Force Academy, 2302 Cadet
Drive, 333-4497

Where else on the Front Range would Sinbad or the
current Mike Love-led Beach Boys play other than the U.S. Air Force
Academy's Arnold Hall? Maybe not anywhere! Anyway, you'll also find
theatrical performances here, as well as a Ticketmaster outlet for
those who don't believe in computers or telephones.

This is the 15th year that the Black Rose
Acoustic Society has presented its twice-monthly open stage events,
where folk, bluegrass and other unplugged musicians present their music
for that rarity of rarities, an attentive audience. The not-for-profit
group also presents a variety of jams and feature performers at venues
throughout the area.

From Wilco to ZZ Top to the Colorado Springs
Philharmonic, this beautifully appointed mid-sized venue plays host to
a busy schedule of artists from all walks of life. The center is also
home to Studio Bee, for those times when more intimate performances are
called for.

Go to a dome in Hollywood, and all you get is big
movies. But in the Springs, you'll find the newly opened Stargazers, a
large geodesic dome where local and national acts share the stage with
the occasional Ben Franklin impersonator. Built 40 years ago by
Hollywood Cinerama architect Vincent G. Raney, the venue that's
previously served as a theater, opera house and series of churches has
found new life (desperate pun intended) yet again.

The Business of Art Center's performance space
has been getting busy these days with big-name alt acts like Split Lip
Rayfield, Pueblo's mighty Haunted Windchimes and a day-long Mardi Gras
jamboree. Since this is Manitou, expect at least one barefoot white guy
with dreads and one blissful woman twirling a hula hoop.

The Independent Film Society of Colorado and the
Business of Art Center have teamed up to offer monthly screenings of
high-quality independent films that shouldn't be missed, but would be
if you relied on the multiplex.

Nosh's monthly screening and discussion group is
led by the Gazette's Warren Epstein, who once proposed creating
his own film awards: "The Warrens like the Oscars, but not." His film
series should have a longer shelf life (again, pun intended).

Every Tuesday brings film night at Shuga's, which
means instead of popcorn and a movie, you can have a full meal and a
martini while watching your favorite flicks. Show times and themes
vary, so call ahead or check the Web site.

This nonprofit hosts multiple events in the Pikes
Peak region that bring audiences and filmmakers together. Chief among
them: The Indie Spirit Film Festival, an ambitious, locally organized
April event that's attracted hundreds of submissions in just its second
year.

Each month, local library branches present free
screenings of current and classic movies for adults, teens and
children. March brought Singing in the Rain, Shakespeare in Love,
Mamma Mia! and Get Smart. (Also, don't overlook the fact
that local libraries have pretty strong collections of movies on DVD,
which you can check out for free.)

This acting school and theater company teaches
children and youth ages 7 to 18 the craft of theater. Apart from
classes, the company regularly produces "junior" versions of plays,
staged at the City Auditorium.

Arnold Hall plays host to the AFA's own
performing groups as well as to touring shows. Its most recent season
included Pajama Game and the musical Nunsense, starring
Sally Struthers. Yes, that Sally Struthers.

The theatre produces a variety of shows every
season, from interactive murder mysteries to dramas, musicals and
comedies. The spring and early summer will bring shows including
Gypsy and the sure-to-be-Broadway-bound The Royal Gorge Miner
ore Go Pick Your Crack Young Man.

First Strike Theatre

919 Sahwatch St., 471-3405

These acting activists create custom performances
that mix humor, song and dance with their own material to deliver
current, politically charged social commentaries.

Although it's the only dedicated dinner theater
in the area, the Melodrama does allow a meals-optional ticket to see
its campy but charming shows. The season runs April through October,
and there are special holiday productions in December.

Boasting affordable theater put on by talented
local artists, JAKES has the Springs covered for outrageously
entertaining and playfully informal cabaret. At press time, troupe
member Jessica Gisin was writing Things My Mother Never Told Me,
to celebrate Mother's Day, as well as Group Therapy for the
summer and a third, yet untitled, cabaret for the fall.

The MAT, though now technically in Colorado
Springs, hosts only original theater. Expect shows for kids, a
Premieres series with new national actors, and an Encores series of
works by Colorado artists, including consistently wacky theater owners
Jim Jackson and Birgitta De Pree. The MAT also offers acting
workshops.

The opera company recently wrapped production on
its 2009 show, Street Scene. With only one major production per
year, the theater spends the rest of the time visiting schools and
hosting the Vocal Arts Symposium with Colorado Summer Festival of the
Arts, all to promote opera in southern Colorado.

The Children's Playhouse series and the Center
Stage Series host local and national productions as well as dance acts
from around the world. The center's own Sangre de Cristo Ballet Theatre
performs contemporary and classic works.

The puppet and doll workshop closed in 2007, but
will reopen later this year this time with a 70-seat theater expected
to house five shows annually, with performances three to four times per
week. The showcase will expand to include an art gallery and a small
museum with displays tracing the history of the locally made and
beloved Simpich character dolls.

A Monument-based community theater offering youth
productions, such as Alice in Wonderland, Jr. This season, the
budding company has expanded to include an adult group. Experienced
producers, directors, vocal coaches and actors help run the
organization.

Run by ex-UCCS students, this is cutting-edge,
experimental theater with substance. It hosts a yearly Theatregasm
festival, and a weekend of original short, experimental plays. Its
April production keeps up the avant-garde trend; R.U.R. tells
the story of a future populated mainly by robots, who have become
nearly human.

The college's professional troupe performs works
from modern classics (a stage adaptation of The Grapes of
Wrath), to Shakespeare (As You Like It), to original
productions. Its performances are overseen by a 40-local-show veteran,
artistic director Murray Ross.

At the time of publication, local artist-grump
Tom McElroy, known as Atomic Elroy, was about to open a
performance/dance/multimedia art space with his artist wife, Lisa (who
goes by Zelda Bubbles). Look for guest performances along with Elroy's
own quarterly productions.

Improvisation and comedy

The improv groups below perform short- and
long-form comedy skits, which often rely on audience participation. For
a more traditional experience, head to Loonee's Comedy Corner (loonees.com) on Academy Boulevard, which
regularly bills local and national comedians.